What is surface energy?

In the vinyl graphic industry, Surface Energy is the invisible force that determines if your graphic will stay down for years or fail in minutes. It is the measure of a substrate's "receptivity" to an adhesive.

Surface energy is the molecular attraction of a surface. To get a permanent bond, the surface energy of the object you are wrapping must be higher than the surface energy of the film's adhesive.

• High Surface Energy (HSE): Materials like bare metal, glass, or stainless steel act like a magnet. They pull the adhesive in, creating a strong bond.

• Low Surface Energy (LSE): Materials like polyethylene (trash bins), powder coatings, or "easy-clean" paints repel the adhesive.

Why it Matters

Think of the adhesive as a liquid. On an LSE surface, the adhesive will "bead up" (like water on a waxed car) rather than flow. If you apply a standard film to a low-energy surface, you will experience "lifting" in the recesses—no matter how much heat you apply. The glue simply isn't touching enough of the surface to hold.

Note: While scientists often use the term "Surface Tension" for liquids and "Surface Energy" for solids, in the shop, you will often hear them used interchangeably to describe the same "pulling" force.